For the second time this year, the Gainesville City Commission unanimously approved a motion to sell Citizens Field to the Alachua County School Board for $500,000 along with about $5 million in land and infrastructure improvements.
With Commissioner Bryan Eastman absent, the commission on Aug. 13 voted 6-0 to approve Commissioner Ed Book’s motion to direct staff to negotiate a Purchase and Sale Agreement with the School Board of Alachua County for the transfer of Citizens Field.
The city’s second attempt now awaits action by the school board, which halted the purchase on June 16 in a 4-1 vote. Board members instead wanted to consider other potential locations for a new facility, including Buchholz, Eastside and Gainesville high schools. School Board member and District 2 County Commission candidate Tina Certain cast the lone vote in favor of the sale.
However, on July 30, the board voted 4-1 to approve an agreement with the city that authorizes further investigation of Citizens Field, preserving the district’s option to purchase and rebuild the stadium for public school sports programs
Board members emphasized that the vote does not commit the district to purchasing the 60-year-old stadium property. Instead, it begins a due diligence process made up of three 90-day periods, totaling up to 270 days, during which the district can inspect the site while a $100,000 deposit remains in escrow and fully refundable if the board decides not to proceed.The city agreed to pay up to $15,000 for additional environmental testing.
Under the city’s obligations in the proposed interlocal agreement, Gainesville would provide up to $250,000 for environmental cleanup at the stadium site, install stubbed utility connections, construct a stadium drop-off loop and bus parking area, provide the minimum required parking spaces, and maintain stormwater infrastructure and parking in perpetuity, according to city documents.
Negotiated deed restrictions would limit the property’s use to a public school stadium, athletic or recreational facility, allow five city events per year, and include a repurpose option in the event of a default after a notice and cure period.
The school board’s obligations include budgeting $22 million to $25 million for construction of a facility featuring a turf field suitable for football, soccer, lacrosse, track and field, seating for 3,000 to 5,000 spectators, electronic scoreboards, a press box with media facilities, home and visiting locker rooms, and lighting that meets standards for televised events.
Mayor Harvey Ward told The Sun on Aug. 14 that the deal is “98% headed in the right direction” and that he does not see any significant obstacles in the revised agreement.
Addressing Citizens Field’s role in the community, Ward noted that Gainesville High and Buchholz High do not have the physical space needed to build stadiums on their campuses.
“Eastside probably does, but given the record over the last 40 or 50 years of spending money at Eastside High School, it is really hard for me to imagine they’re going to build a great stadium in Eastside High School,” Ward said. “And you can’t at GHS and probably cannot at Buchholz……nor do I do think neighbors to the west of Buccholz would happy with Friday night lights.”
Citizens Field, home to the football teams of Gainesville’s three public high schools, has been owned by the city for decades. In 1984, the city signed a 40-year lease with the school district for $1 per year, allowing the district to manage maintenance of the facility.
The field has fallen into disrepair in recent years. After the lease expired a few years ago, the city and school board have continued operating under year-to-year agreements for the past two seasons.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Gainesville OKs Citizens Field deal, awaits School Board decision
Reporting by Elliot Tritto, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Elliot Tritto, Gainesville Sun | USA TODAY Network
